Hello everyone. Miranda from Deland, FL. I am 26 years old and am hopefully going to have the Lapband by the end of the year. I have been researching this option for almost 2 years now. I am currently 245 lbs and at my heaviest have been almost 260lbs and I am only 5'3 so my BMI is around 43.4. My surgeon's assistant said that it looks hopeful that my insurance company will approve my surgery so I am keeping my fingers crossed. I have tried pretty much every diet I can think of and even changed my eating habits and started working out 2-3 times a week during my hour lunch instead of eating and to no avail have failed to lose and keep any weight off. I attended my seminar on 07-28-2009 and submitted my potential patient paperwork for the surgeon to review and to submit to my insurance company. So far this site has been amazing to read through and have so many questions answered. Looking forward to continue to learn more.

Got some pretty disheartening news today. Called the surgeons office to make sure they had submitted my paperwork to my health insurance company and she said they had but from her experience dealing with Florida Healthcare Plans that they usually do not cover the LapBand surgery only gastric bypass. I'm going to be crushed if they deny it.

Miranda, I always tell people to call their insurance company for their own peace of mind. There should be a customer service phone number on your insurance card.

Ask if they cover lap band. If yes, ask what their requirements are, including pre-op testing, possible pre-op diet, etc.

If they say no, it's not covered, ask if there is an appeals process or if lap band is specifically excluded.

Once you have these answers, you will know much better what you are facing!

Good luck

Miranda, I always tell people to call their insurance company for their own peace of mind. There should be a customer service phone number on your insurance card.

Ask if they cover lap band. If yes, ask what their requirements are, including pre-op testing, possible pre-op diet, etc.

If they say no, it's not covered, ask if there is an appeals process or if lap band is specifically excluded.

Once you have these answers, you will know much better what you are facing!

Good luck

So I called my insurance company directly and of course the women was kind of rude when I told her I had some questions to ask about coverage of surgical weight loss procedures. She said they don't even show where anything has been submitted on my behalf. Thankfully I have an appointment with my primary care physician on Friday. It kind of sounds like she has to refer me for a surgical weight loss procedure.